DavidA sad read, Dustin Cox stepping down from his roles in the AANR and the AANR West.
#naturism #naturist #nudebushwalking #bodypositivity #clothesfree #socialnudity #fkk #noclothes #normalisenudity #choosenude
#skinnydipping
SydneyJim@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie I appreciate you taking the time to articulate your thoughts so clearly for everyone to read. These conversations are part of how the #NaturistCommunity continues to reflect & move forward. It’s never an easy decision to step away from something you’ve invested time & care into, & your perspective carries weight because of that. (1/5)
I think there is still value in maintaining a sense of collective support around the ANF as a unifying body, even while recognising its limitations. As you’ve said, it remains the only national organisation we currently have, & that alone gives it an important role, however imperfectly it may be fulfilling it at present. (2/5)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
Your points around leadership, vetting, & overall effectiveness are important, & I agree these are areas that any organisation in this space must continually reflect on & strengthen. Constructive input, when it can be offered in a way that builds rather than divides, may still have a place in helping the ANF evolve over time. (3/5)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
The idea of a more formal political presence is certainly interesting, though I suspect it would come with its own challenges in terms of scale, resources, & community alignment. Perhaps it’s not necessarily an either-or situation, but something that could develop alongside existing structures if there were enough shared will & clarity of purpose? (4/5)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
I feel there is still merit in supporting what exists, while encouraging steady improvement & continuing to demonstrate, through our own #Naturist conduct, social media representation of #Naturism, & the values we want the broader community to understand. Change in this space tends to be gradual, & often comes from a combination of advocacy, visibility, & consistency over time. (5/5)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
1000% agree and appreciate your thoughts and time weighted wisdom! The present ANF is all we have and it largely finds itself, as it is, directly due to the lack of real support from the National Australian Naturist Community. (1/2)
@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie Generally, the ANF committees past, present and future are very well intended but are grossly overwhelmed by the task at hand! 8 or so, with or without appropriately qualifications, on the ANF committee on a voluntary basis (largely unfunded) can not realistically achieve what our community needs particularly on a National basis. (2/2)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie We need a small core group of reliable #Naturists to act as coordinators. They don’t need titles or authority, just consistency. They don’t need to be members of the ANF, but to work alongside it. Their role should be to organise activities, set clear behavioural standards, & keep messaging aligned with respectful non-sexual #Naturism. (1/2)
Small well publicised gatherings are a strong starting point I think. Simple & repeatable on a semi-regular basis: #NudeBeach meetups, #NakedHiking, #SkinnyDipping get-togethers, #Naked picnics in a secluded park, or even #Naked BBQs. They should be well-run, welcoming, & calm. The key is not size, but consistency. A group that meets regularly & behaves respectfully becomes a stable example others can trust & join. (2/2)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie #SocialMedia then becomes a window into that normality. Constantly & consistently share images & posts that clearly show #naturism as relaxed, #social, & grounded in #nature. Avoid anything that could be misinterpreted. Focus on the atmosphere & the #Nudity, free of sexualisation or exhibitionism. Over time, this builds a quiet but powerful narrative that challenges assumptions without confrontation. (1/2)
Public presence does not mean forcing visibility into unwilling spaces. It means being appropriately visible where it already fits. Established #naturist beaches, private venues, & #Nudist areas. When those spaces are active, friendly, & well-presented, they naturally become points of curiosity & gradual acceptance. (2/2)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie Using #SocialMedia to explain what #naturism is & what it is not, I have found, has helped to bridge the gap for newcomers. Clear language around #respect, boundaries, & non-sexual intent is essential. If we grow this well enough, we can begin lightly coordinating with the ANF rather than working separately. Share what’s working, offer content, & help amplify each other. (1/2)
That’s where the “two layers” start reinforcing one another rather than competing. What do you guys think? (2/2)
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie
@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie So I think to save the ANF from itself & to promote #Naturism we need to begin with a group of #naturists taking the initiative. The difference between success & failure is intention & consistency. We need to keep it #respectful, visible & not hidden behind a paywall or disguised with those dreadful mosaics, & it needs to be consistent. That’s what gradually shifts perception & builds something larger. Any thoughts?
@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie Seriously, it all comes back to the ANF being the National Body. Therefore all efforts need to be channeled with unity and cooperation under the ANF banner. That is to say, ‘a group of naturist’ needs to be in reality the ANF? (1/2)
@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky @BackyardNudie Australia is so divided, not only by vast distances but historical and current conflicts, not to mention the confusion caused by those who claim to be ‘naturist’ but actually harbour some form of sexualised agenda. As a result, the general public often get a very tainted view of naturism. (2/2).